Has anyone seen this new documentary series that recently started on HBO? There have been a few episodes now and it's eye opening. It offers some great historical clarifications and gives much more balanced context around the events at the end of WW2 and how they really unfolded to take us from allies with Russia to unnecessary actions we initiated that begin the Cold War. I'm no American historian but consider myself fairly well informed but was surprised HOW MANY historical "facts" I'd been taught in school or understand as historical fact, were so horribly skewed or omitted. Of course what we've been fed has been scrubbed, manipulated, and forgotten by the people for 50+ years to make the US look like the good guy in much of that.

I had no idea about many of the underhanded and plain disgusting military decisions made and allowed stemming from Truman's small man syndrome. Has anyone else seen this show or know more about it? If you haven't I highly recommend at least give one episode a shot. Harry Truman looks to be one of the most vile individuals to ever hold power in this country though. Wouldn't believe it if they didn't include so many quotes and articles in proper context and timeline. Doesn't seem like this is some tin foil hat Oliver Stone work like some of his films have been in the past.

I wouldn't go as far as calling anything attached to Oliver Stone as an actual factual documentary.

Correct. He drowns facts in bullshit hyperbole. Thus any real stuff he had to tell is crapped on.

Agreed, which is why I mentioned his other movies where that was the obvious case (JFK, W to some extend, etc). I saw no evidence of agenda in this and hope somebody can confirm that this isn't true, would be nice to know at least some was exaggerated. Problem is, that they read and show direct passages from books, articles, and official records to deliver a perspective that's hard for me to dispute.

For instance, they'll show videos of Truman's statements and his writings on intent and feelings on what he did. Then compare it to legit news articles and thoughts from cabinet members and it paints a credible picture. Are you knowledgeable about the history of that time period? If you are check out an episode and let me know if it's BS or something. Hope I am but don't think it's a hatchet job at all. Either way it's a damn interesting show to watch.

I did see an episode of this and found it very interesting. A lot of good old footage I hadn't seen before.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

My friend wrote a high school paper entitled "Harry S. Truman: The S Stands For Sack". I'll ask this historian for his thoughts on the subject.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I have not seen this show, but I have just read a book called "Six Months in 1945, From World War to Cold War" which deals with this same exact subject.

The U.S. and England weren't exactly angels, but the Soviet Union wasn't without blame. Poland was a major sticking point. The U.S and England wanted free elections in Poland, but the USSR wasn't going to allow that. There was a story of 12 Poles being arrested, then swept way to Russia because basically they were anti-communist.

Germany obviously was a major issue. There was also stories of how the Russians basically looted Germany after the war, including the western zone that was mainly occupied by the Allies (U.S. and england) hindering plans to feed the starving population of Germany (many of the populace were fleeing Soviet occupation heading toward western Germany).

There are other stories too which I cannot get into right now but both sides had their selfish interests, but i wouldn't blame the start of the Cold War on just the U.S. or Truman.

Since I hate reading, I'll just read about the book on wikipedia, but that sounds like a fascinating book.

The Russian oppression started prior to the end of WWII too. My grandparents had to flee with just a suitcase during the war because they were land owners and the Russians attempted to change your opinion on land ownership by killing your family. I think the cold war was inevitable.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

In the book there is a statistic where the Allies (U.S. England etc) captured more POW's than the Soviets, even though there was a much larger German force fighting the Soviets on the easter front, then compared to the western front. The Germans did not want to be captured by the Soviets due to the harsh brutality they would face.

BBrick, it is a pretty good book if this aspect of history interests you. I thought some fascinating parts were when the American and Russian armies finally met up and the perceptions of each side. The Americans had more advanced equipment and were a little more sophisticated, while the Russian army had tattered clothes, still relied on horses and less on motorized vehichles compared to the U.S. But the Russians (and some Americans even stated this in the book) had taken basically the full brunt of the German war machine and many U.S. policy makers were sensitve to this. The Russians did not think highly of the American army.

In the book it also states that Russians generals, and I assume this means Stalin, were not as worried about soldiers killed in action compared to the Allies, who were a little more cautious. This in part explains the high casualty rate of the USSR vs the Allies.

Most of the book deals with Roosevelt (than Truman), Churchill and Stalin and the negotiations for a future Europe.

The Cold War was indeed inevitable. Even Hitler mentioned in his last days that the last two remaining powers, U.S and USSR, were bound to be rivals.

Last two episodes have been fascinating and I am looking forward to next week when they tackle Reagan.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Bad.